Taylon (22 page)

Now, tonight, he lay on a cot, bandaged as best as he
could be. Wine weaned his pain, and he felt little as he lay
looking up at the sky. His mission was not completed, but maybe the
books would be worth something to Da’Lynn, that murderess….

A snap of a twig nearby alerted him. He looked lazily
in that direction, his eyes unable to focus. Sure enough, something
moved out there. It moved closer…it hopped.

Slowly his eyes confirmed the shape. It was a
rabbit…a harmless little—

SHUNK

The transformation sounded loud, but it was barely a
whisper into the night. Suddenly before him was a full-grown woman.
Her hand shot over his mouth so he could not scream, even though
his instincts had yet to send the command. The wine was making it
slow.

And he felt something stab him. Pain, a mild,
translucent sensation, filled his body. Stabbed in the heart?
Coldness spread through him, as it felt harder to move. Kerlick
looked up into the woman’s eyes, his vision out of focus. He wanted
to ask what was happening, but little by little everything was
going black.

The rebel elf sagged onto the cot, life seeping fast
from his body. His neck muscles failed and let his head flop to the
side. And through his fading vision he glimpsed a rabbit scampering
away. Such an odd thing to see in this part of the woods. But
before he could further contemplate the mysterious animal, a last
shuddering pain took him.

Chele

book 4 in the
Territories
series by
Scott J. Kramer

From the ashes rises a new foe, one that could
completely wipe out Faldoa and the Territories.

It has been a time of rebuilding since the battle of
Aladedas. Nonk, hideously disfigured, both in mind and body, now
rules the weakened human empire. When invaders from the North
arrive in the land, they easily conquer his kingdom.

Word of this reaches the elves, but their response
is dismissive. They have their own recouping to do without worrying
about anyone else. Even when Gantha recalls the prophecy, little is
done.

Meanwhile, deep in the Territories, Chele discovers
a new ‘friend’ within a necklace.

Are the Territories doomed? Can a woman with
a piece of jewelry possess the power to thwart this new enemy, save
the Territories and her own soul?

Chapter One

Huge gale winds swept from the ocean,
bringing the salt and fish smell inland. NakCha’s black hair
whipped behind her, wanting to fly free. She enjoyed the wind. It
was her freedom. The smell was home for her. If only it would
last.

Behind her, dark clouds billowed from the
trees; the evil looking smoke plumed upward. Every so often red
flames would poke out, like eyes catching a glimpse of what next to
engulf to devour next. The wind blew the stench inland, but NakCha
reveled in the moment.

Out of the burning forest, her army crept
forward. All rugged, rough looking brutes. Burn marks singed into
some of their animal hide apparel, while others had faces smeared
with soot. Four thousand in all, give or take a few stragglers.

NakCha didn’t need to look back at the
destruction, or even to know who approached her from behind. She
was enjoying the moment, spear gripped tightly in her hand, planted
deep in the rock.

“MaNa, it is done,” her soldier reported.
NakCha acknowledged the title
MaNa
, the formal phrase
meaning my queen, even though she wasn’t remotely of royal blood.
She was queen of this army at least.

Her brown eyes gazed across the rumbling
ocean, waves crashing their way to shore. The horizon met the
water, a pure line of sky and ocean.

“I wonder what is out there.” She was mainly
talking to herself, yet she said it aloud so that her second in
command could hear as well.

“MaNa, I do not know.” It was a hesitant,
unsure reply. NakCha demanded certainty, respect, dedication. To
falter was to declare failure.

She turned swiftly, knowing what to expect.
UkTa had his head down—not cowering, yet his shoulders showed a
hint of submission—ready for the pain that came for uncertainty.
All he received was laughter.

“UkTa, it was a question that we shall answer
together.” At this statement, her second in command straightened to
his full seven-foot height. Her laugh ended in a seductive smile.
Her warriors trained to be fit and strong. It showed in their
appearance, often making the enemy gulp with fear.

More of her men stood farther back. Some
watched the fire rampage through the forest, while others awaited
her command.

“Filthy savages!” was what one woman wasted
her last breath on when they attacked the village that now was an
ember. NakCha relished in the fact that their foes underestimated
her. An army of men in animal hide armor wielding spears were
surely no match for a sophisticated army of metal and steel.

But she had proven them wrong.

“Men!” She cried out, her tone commanding,
strong, yet feminine. It was a voice that demanded respect, one
that would tempt in dreams and haunt in nightmares.

The army was at attention quickly.

“Our conquest on this little rock is
complete. We are victorious!” NakCha raised her spear in the air.
The rest of the army followed suit and raised a howl of
rejoice.

“But our mission is not over. Across the sea
lies yet another threat.” The spear pointed out, against the wind.
“There lies our next battle.” And the cheering continued. NakCha
looked back at the horizon, her smile becoming wide and greedy.

KaNa had started this journey for her, many
miles away, and many moons ago. It was in a dream the Goddess had
come to NakCha, and confirmed orders in the morning when the very
ground beneath her shook and the mountain spouted fire. She knew
then it was her duty, her mission to lead the FaJa tribe.

NakCha was bred for strength. FaJa women
could not be weak. Upon convincing the chief of the tribe of her
vision, she took up the spear. To the south, they had
shared
their land with an enemy called Gaul. It was her first battle, and
a slim victory. But upon that triumph, NakCha had earned the army’s
respect.

Now, two islands later, and four more cities
destroyed, NakCha heard the calling from across the ocean. No land
was in sight like the previous islands, but KaNa had told her to
proceed.

That’s what she planned to do.

ABOUT SCOTT J. KRAMER

Ever since Scott’s mother denied naming him
Scott Fitzgerald Kramer, writing has been in his blood. He watched
his grandfather use an old-fashioned typewriter to compose memories
about his grandmother. Finding out quickly that typewriters didn’t
like him, Scott began carrying a scrap of paper and a pencil. Word
processing changed his fate.

Scott lives in Cincinnati with his beautiful
wife and two adorable little girls. During the day, Scott as Mr.
Kramer terrorizes sixth grade students, forcing them to read and
write. Slowly, they come to realize that reading is fun and writing
is something they have to do to pass his class.

Taylon
is Scott’s third novel in the
Territory Series. The first book is
Kara.
You can visit
Scott at
http://scottjkramer.wordpress.com/

Find Scott online:

Twitter: @scottjkramer

Website:
http://scottjkramer.wordpress.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Scott-J-Kramer-Books-263988617052819/?ref=hl

Email:
[email protected]

Also Available from Scott J. Kramer and Prizm
Books:

SERIES

Jane Monterray Mysteries

Taking the Plunge

Territories Novels

Kara / Euphoria / Taylon

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Taylon
, please consider telling others and writing a
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